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This story was written by my father, Mr L.F.C. Knight (1912 — 1991) as part of our Family History, which includes stories of life as family members knew it, photos, family trees and other relevant information. This is the final part of my father’s diary and is an account of his return home from Malta in 1946 after the War.
Fri 4 Jan
To St. Andrews for medical inspection in readiness for embarkation to U.K.
Sat 5 Jan
All Maltese on one day strike. Preparations made in case of trouble but fortunately not necessary. All troops confined to barracks. Stayed at office until 9.30 pm when we were told all clear.
Sun 6 Jan
Started packing kit. Command Hall pm.
Mon 7 Jan
To St. Andrews stores to draw winter underwear.
Tues 8 Jan
The Way Back
Moved into demob camp. Another beautiful day — in more ways than one. Changed money into francs. F.F.I. inspection.
Wed 9 Jan
Up at 6am. No one overslept! To harbour for 9.15 to board Italian ship SS Grandidea at 10.15. Fairly big ship, very clean and beautifully fitted out. Off coast of Sicily at 2.00 pm. Through Straits of Messma on way to Naples. Boat had come from Port Said and already nearly full up Air force, Navy and Army all going home.
Thurs 10 Jan
At Naples for 1 pm. View of Capri and Italian coast. Very mountainous right to sea coast. Vesuvious, two cones one higher than the other. Trouble when an Italian sea man was caught stealing tins of jam, milk etc. He was raving so had to be put in the cells. Naples harbour, much damage and wrecks. Anchor raised for sailing at 9pm, destination Toulon 1839 personnel on board.
Fri 11 Jan
Sea rough. Passed through Straights between Sardinia and Corsica. Very rugged. Snow on mountains.
Sat 12 Jan
Entered Toulon harbour. Many sunken ships. Sea plane base. Disembarked and to transit camp in tents.
Sun 18 Jan
Walk to Segne a suburb of Toulon am and Toulon pm. Air full of scent from cosmetic manufacture. Sunshine. Bomb and shell damage all way along walk back to Transit camp.
Mon 14 Jan
Poor conditions at Transit camp. Very rough, windy and cold at night. On train at 8pm. Crossed Rhone and on through Central France, ice and frost. Through Limoges, Orleans. Each station besieged by inhabitants hoping to barter for possible luxuries, soap particularly.
Tues 15 Jan
All day in train. Stops for meals. Wight in carriage Heated in evening.
Wed 16 Jan
Many bridges wrecked and repaired with temporary framework. Train crossed them at walking pace. At Dieppe at 6.45 am. Transit camp near town, very good conditions with everything laid on. Very cold weather.
Thurs 17 Jan
Crossed Channel and so to Aldershot. Civilian clothes issued, railway voucher and that was that after 5 years 2 months 11 days.
More stories and pictures including Leonard Knight’s Diary Extracts of Malta can be found on our Family Memories website:
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